Hours before the Senate is poised to decide whether or not to take up legislation that would overhaul the nation's immigration system, President Obama delivered a forceful defense of the bill as a fair, bipartisan, common-sense fix to the nation's "broken" system, which would serve the nation's economy and undocumented immigrants alike.

"This week, the Senate will consider a common-sense, bipartisan bill that is the best chance we've had in years to fix our broken immigration system," said Mr. Obama, speaking from the East Room of the White House, surrounded by a group of law enforcement representatives, business and labor leaders, faith leaders, and Republican and Democratic elected officials who support the Senate legislation.

"To truly deal with this issue Congress needs to act. And that moment is now."